Process of polishing match-heads.



F. VAN D. CRUSER. PROCESS OF POLISHING MATCH HEADS.

APPLICATION FILED 1ULY28. 1915. 1,184,426. Patented May 23,1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

TTOR/VEY F. VAN D. CRUStH.

PROCESS OF POLISHING MATCH HEADS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28. 1915.

Patented May 23,1916

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

SQ RN M 1 )5? LA. -5: N %\V w kw .I lleEllLEzri FREDERICK VAN DYKE CRUSEB, OF OS'WEGO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO DIAMOND MATCH COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PROCESS OF POLISHING MATCH-HEADS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK V. D. CRU- SER, a citizen of the United States, and

resident of the city and county of Oswego and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Polishing Match-Heads, of whlch the following is a specification.

In the manufacture of matches it is desirable that the composition heads thereof shall present a uniformly smooth and polished appearance; but owing to the varying atmospheric conditions under which matches have heretofore been produced this result could not be practically attained.

It is the object of my invention to provide a method of imparting a substantially uniform gloss or polish to the match heads during the production of the matches upon a continuous match machine, and this irrespective of the temperature and relative humidity of the surrounding atmosphere. I attain this end by subjecting the external surface of the individual match heads,-immediately succeeding the composition-applying stage and before the composition has had an opportunity to dry appreciably and form a skin on the outsideto the direct impingement of rapidly-moving air, the hy grometric condition of which is adjusted to meet the particular requirements of the existent atmospheric condition of the match room; that is to say, as the relative humidity of the surrounding air increases the relative humidity of the impinging air is lowered, and the converse. The amount of modified air directed to the match heads remains approximately constant, but the relative humidity thereofis raised or lowered according to atmospheric conditions.

The polishing air is preferably heated in order to secure the requisite hygrometric condition thereof, but, if desired, the air preparatory to its delivery under pressure to the matches can be dried by subjecting it to the influence of calcium chlorid or other suitable agent. I find that more efficient results can be attained by rapidly heating the polishing air, that is to say, the temperature of the air is increased as the surrounding -temperature falls or the surrounding relative humidity increases, while the tempera- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1916.

Application filed July 28, 1915. Serial No. 42,310.

ture of such air is lowered as the surrounding temperature rises or the surrounding relative humidity lowers.

The polishing air is propelled toward the outer ends and the sides of the match heads in a manner to impinge at high velocity uniformly against the entire exposed surface of the plastic heads; the polishing effect in creasing in direct proportion to the velocity of the air.

I have discovered that the efliciency of the process is increased by subjecting the match heads to the supplementary action of rapidly-moving currents of atmospheric air after the match heads have been treated with the modified air, such impinging atmospheric air being varied in amount in approximate proportion to its temperature and relative humidity;.that is to say, when the atmospheric temperature is low and its relative humidity high the amount of air directed to the matches is increased, and when the atmospheric temperature is high and its relative humidity low the amount of atmos pheric air directed to the matches is reduced.- In any case the air is propelled at high velocity against the entire exposed surfaces of the match heads, and the efficient amount of air to be employed is determined by observation of specific results under existing atmospheric conditions.

In the annexed drawings I have represented a simple and efiicient means for practically carrying out my invention, but it is to be understood that the structure is merely illustrative, as any other appropriate means for the purpose may be employed.

Figure 1 is a diagram of a part of a contmuous match machine, showing the arrangement of the air blast devices. Fig. 2 1s a longitudinal vertical section, enlarged, through the casing and its contained elements. Flg. 3 is a transverse vertical sectlon, as on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 1s a bottom view of the air distributing pipe connectlon within the primary air chamber.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a portion of an endless carrier chain into which the match splints are inserted row by .row in spaced relation to each other, and

11 designates a chest containing the ignition composltion into which the depending ends of the progressing splints are dlpped to produce the bulb-like match heads, and 12 designates a roller about which the chain passes as the splints with their soft or plastic heads leave the tank. The parts just referred to may be of any usual or approved construct1on.

Immediately after the chain rounds the roller 12 the chain with its load of matches passes horizontally into and through a hood arranged directly above the composition chest. This hood comprises two side walls 13, a top 14, a bottom 14' and an outer end wall 15, the latter being provided with a gate opening whereby access to the chamber may be readily had, and whereby also provision may be had to permit the raising and lowering. of the chain in respect to the composition chest as desired. This hood is attached to and constitutes in effect an extension of a substantially cylindrical casing into and through which the chain progresses from the hood, said casing containing a freely rotatable guide-wheel 16 upon which the chain is guided and supported in its travel within the casing. The casing includes two spaced side walls 17 of appropriate contour and a circumferential wall 18 having suitably disposed inlet and outlet portions 19, 20, respectively, for the traveling chain and its load of matches. This casing and the hood are supported upon a frame structure 21 in any suitable manner. A portion of the circumferential wall of the casing affords a partition between the primary and secondary chambers constituted by the, hood and easing respectively, and such portion is provided with a suitable opening equipped with a slide gate 22 whereby the area of the opening may be varied in order to adjust the extent of communication between the two chambers, as occasion may require. When the chain emerges from the secondary chamber, the chain passes to and about a series of suitable guide wheels 23,

24 exteriorly of the casing.

Enterlng the upper part of the primary chamber is an air-inlet pipe 25 in communication with a trunk through which heated air is forced by a blower or the like. The inlet pipe is provided with a Y-extension 26 having a series of depending branch pipes 2'( which are directed at various angles toward the. underlying up-projecting heads of the matches on the chain. The mouths of these pipes 27 are provided with spaced blades 28 which afl'ord between them reduced air vents, through which the heated air is proj ected downwardly in divided currents so as to strike the bulbs or heads of the matches progressing through the hood; that is to say, the air is projected toward the outer ends and the sides of the heads in a manner to impinge at high velocity uniformly against the entire exposed surfaces of the plastic heads. The match heads are also exposed to the action of polishing air as they travel upon the Wheel 16 within the secondary chamber. This wheel in the construction illustrated includes two spaced disks or end heads 29 mounted on spiders 30 which are connected by cross-bolts 31. The spiders are provided with central hubs or bearings 32 whichare loosely mounted on a shaft 33 extending through the side walls of the casing and journaled in bearings in the frame structure. The wheel heads are connected, near their peripheries, by a circular series of radially-disposed blades 34 which provide a multiplicity of air vents, and the spiders are provided on their inner peripheral edges with annular flanges for the support and guidance of the edges of the chain 1n such a manner that the headed ends of the splints carried by the chain project in ward toward the radial air vents as shown. Fast on the shaft 33 is a paddle or fan wheel 35 which by actuation of said shaft is rapidly rotated in a direction opposite to that of the travel of the match chain. The shaft is provided with a pulley 36 which is adapted to be driven at a predetermined speed from any suitable source of power.

One of the end heads 29 of the wheel is provided with a central opening 37 with which communicates an air-inlet pipe leading from the source of heated air. Such air thus being forced into the interior of the wheel, is driven outwardly-in divided radial currents by the action of the rapidly rotating fan, which currents continuously impinge against the bulbs or heads of the matches, longitudinally of the match splints, as the matches progress on the wheel.

- The wall 18 of the casing is provided with an opening 38 in communication with an air exhaust pipe 39 leading to a suitable point of discharge exteriorly of the match room.

Several of the upper rows of exterior wheels 24 are constructed to be supplied directly with atmospheric air. These wheels are similar in construction to the wheels 16, excepting that both end heads of each of the wheels 24 are provided with central openings for the admission of air. The fans of one= or more of the wheels 24 are rotatable at high speed in order that the amount of air directed to the heads of the traveling matches can be nicely regulated as atmospheric conditions may require. the present instance three wheels 24 are provided with the internal fans and radial air vents. The shafts of the said fans are provided with pulleys 40 which are successively geared together by belts 41, 42. One of the pulleys is connected by a belt 43 with a pulley 44 on a driving shaft 45, and hence all the pulleys 24 when they are 1,184,426 I is -geared together, may be simultaneously -"drive,n. The three pulleys, and their fans, may be thrown out ofoperation, by throwing ofl the belt 43; or the second and third pulleys, or either of them, may be thrown out of operation by throwing ofl" the con necting belts 41 and 42, or either of them.

The air supply pipes are, of course, pm-

vided with suitable dampers for regulating the amount of air going directly into the respective casings, and also for cutting oif the air supply, if desired.

In practising my invention the condition of the surrounding atmosphere must be taken into consideration, and the condition and amount of air directed to the match heads must be regulated accordingly .as

above described. The air must be forced into direct contact with the outer ends and sides of the match heads at high velocity as I have discovered that the polishing eflectof the air increases proportionately 'toits rate of movement as prevlously mentioned. separate application for atent for the apparatus herein shown and escribed will be duly filed.

I claim 1. A process of polishing the composition 6 heads of matches, consisting in subjecting the. said heads, immediately after the dipping operation, to the direct impingement of 'air propelled at high velocity toward the outer ends and sides of the plastic -match heads, the relative humidity of the imping ing :air being lowered as the relative humidity of the surrounding air increases, and the converse.

2. A process of polishing the composition .heads-of matches consisting in subjecting the said heads, immediately after the dip.- ping operation, to the direct impingement of heated air propelled at high velocity toward the outer ends and sides of the plastic match heads. 1 I

3. A process of polishing the composition heads of matches, consisting in subject.-

ing the said heads while in a plastic state to thedirect action of rapidly-moving air,

and in -increasing the temperature of the moving modified air, and subsequently sub.

jecting said heads to the direct action of rapidly-moving atmospheric air variable in amount according to'the requirements of the temperature of the'surrounding atmosphere.

5. A process of polishing the composition heads of matches, consisting in directing air at high velocity toward the plastic heads in a path longitudinally of the splints.

Signed at the city and county of Oswego "and State of New York this 23rd day of July, A. D. 1915.

' I FREDERICK vntnm cmrsra. 

